Done, go, race!
A determined man in Texas makes history as the first person to flee Disneyland to Disney World and master the grueling challenge of raising awareness of type 1 diabetes.
Plano’s Don Muchow fulfilled a dream on Monday when he crossed the finish line at Disney’s flagship theme park in Orlando, Florida to finish a 2,845-mile hike from his sister park in Anaheim, California. The 59-year-old marketing director is an ultra runner, Iron Man, and type 1 diabetic who told Fox News it would be “surreal” to end the mission for good.
Plano’s Don Muchow fulfilled a dream on Monday and crossed the finish line at Disney’s flagship theme park in Orlando, Florida.
(Don Muchow)
DISNEY WORLD OPENS COVID-19 VACCINATION CLINIC FOR EMPLOYEES: ‘ANOTHER OPTION’
In February 2020, Muchow set off for his first “Mouse2Mouse” challenge and planned to run from Disneyland to Walt Disney World to raise awareness of the autoimmune disease. The athlete was taken to a jog in Newport Beach on February 1, 2020, but stopped at 1,260 miles in Tarzan, Texas on March 22, as the coronavirus pandemic escalated, the OC Register reports. Muchow’s father was not healthy due to a lung disease and died a few weeks after his son left.
Muchow took some time off to be with family and maintain safety during the outbreak. On September 24, 2020, Muchow opened a new fire in Tarzan to make the dream come true. As coronavirus cases increased across the country, the ultra runner stopped in Texarkana a month later. He was very focused and ran from the city in east Texas to Disney World on March 2, 2021.
Muchow was greeted with cheers and applause from Disney cast members and guests when he walked in and celebrated with a brief visit to the theme park on Monday.
“It felt surreal. I tried to get there for so long and suddenly it was done,” he told Fox News of the milestone. “It’s just beginning to sink in.”
FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK TO RECEIVE MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS
The marathon runner was determined not only to visit the bicoastal theme parks, but also to see the Pacific and Atlantic. He drove on and reached the beach in Melbourne on April 7th.
Supported by his wife Leslie Nolen, who drove the important delivery truck full of supplies, Muchow said he would take a rest day roughly every 10 days during the three non-consecutive runs. To manage his health, Muchow takes insulin shots every day, WKMG reports. He also uses a tandem insulin pump and Dexcom continuous glucose monitor to monitor his blood sugar. The latter has technology connected to Nolens phone that will notify them when his numbers get too low.
“We’re big Disney fans,” he told Fox News. “The Disney motto,” If you can dream it, you can do it “really hits me. Dreams are great, but memories are even better.”
(Don Muchow)
On the run, the man averaged a whopping 32 miles per day (which is longer than a marathon) for a total of 88 days of running. The couple would sleep in hotel rooms, Airbnb rentals, and their rooftop tent along the way.
Disney World was a dream destination for both of them, according to Muchow.
CLICK HERE FOR CONTINUED CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE FROM FOX NEWS
“Start small, give yourself credit for any progress, and most importantly, keep going,” said the ultra runner.
(Don Muchow)
“We’re big Disney fans,” he told Fox News. “The Disney motto,” If you can dream it, you can do it “really hits me. Dreams are great, but memories are even better.”
As for a favorite attraction, entertainment at home is particularly true.
“We love it’s a small world,” he said of the boat trip. “It reminds me of the type 1 diabetes community. I am connected to type 1 patients around the world and we all support one another. It really is a small world.”
In a piece of advice for aspiring marathon runners, Muchow gave some simple tips.
“Start small, appreciate any progress, and most importantly, move on. Epic happens one step at a time,” he advised. “I started with a 5K. Fourteen years later, I was an Ironman. And now I’m the first person to walk from Disneyland to Disney World.”
“You just have to keep going.”
